Hollywood's L. Ron Hubbard Theatre marked a significant milestone last Tuesday, celebrating forty years of nurturing emerging talents through the esteemed Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contests. The international winners of these contests, who traveled to Hollywood for a week-long workshop and awards gala, enjoyed a unique live radio-theater production, showcasing the fusion of writing, illustration, and acting.
The highlight of the event was a captivating performance of L. Ron Hubbard’s 1941 short story, “The Last Drop,” originally published in Astonishing Stories. The humorous narrative revolves around a New York bartender who acquires a mysterious potion from Borneo capable of altering human size, which he cleverly uses to handle some troublesome mobsters. The tale was brought to life by an ensemble of seasoned actors, including Bill Kates, known for "Horizon Forbidden West," Jim Meskimen from "The Grinch" and "Apollo 13," Phil Proctor of "Monsters, Inc." and "Toy Story," and Robert F. Daley of "Dungeons & Dragons" fame.
Established in 1997, the L. Ron Hubbard Theatre aims to rekindle the magic of America’s golden age of radio theatre, a popular form of entertainment before the rise of television. This year's performance allowed attendees to experience the charm and engagement of live audio drama, a testament to the enduring appeal of storytelling across different mediums.
The theatre’s event not only entertained but also highlighted the integration of various artistic disciplines. “The actors' voices are like paint brushes—the way they speak and do the voices so beautifully,” remarked Lance Robinson, a writer winner from Canada, reflecting the overall sentiment of the audience.
Editor of Galaxy’s Edge and assistant publisher for Arc Manor, Lezli Robyn, shared her immersive experience, “I just closed my eyes and completely enjoyed this funny story.” Meanwhile, Writer Contest Coordinating Judge and bestselling author Jody Lynn Nye praised the production, noting, “We were thrilled by all this. I love the story. It was very funny. I love Hubbard’s humor.”
The Writers of the Future Contest, initiated by L. Ron Hubbard in 1983, was designed to provide a platform for aspiring writers to showcase their work. It was soon followed by its sister contest, Illustrators of the Future, broadening the scope to include visual artists. These contests have been incredibly successful in launching careers; to date, 559 writer winners and published finalists have penned over 8,000 novels and short stories, including 36 New York Times bestsellers, and collectively, their works have sold over 60 million copies.
Illustrator winners have also made significant impacts in the creative industry, producing over 700 book and magazine covers, 518 comic books, and contributing to 131 major motion pictures, TV shows, and documentaries.
The annual gathering at L. Ron Hubbard Theatre not only celebrates artistic achievement but continues to foster a thriving community of creative minds, helping to sculpt the future of literary and visual arts.